Week four.... Nine Miles Came Fast!

Week four... nine miles sure came fast!  Here we are, week four and we are already at 9 miles for the long run.  Most of us on the training team have trained for the past several years for the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon that happens annually on Grandmas' Marathon weekend in Duluth.  We have usually followed a 15 week program based on Hal Higdon.  We have done well with that plan which also includes a long run on the weekend like the full marathon plan.  The only big difference - not including the overall distance of course - is how fast the miles climb on the full program.  With the half, the weekend long runs usually went up by one mile.... five, six, seven, eight, nine, and so on.    Our last four weeks of long runs for the full program have been.... six, seven, five, and then nine this weekend.  We were like - "um, where did eight go??"  When looking ahead, the long runs jump by 2-3 miles each weekend.  We totally get it - to get to 26.2 miles, we need to climb faster than preparing for 13.1.  I was a little nervous for the 9 miles - especially since I didn't technically have a 7 mile run since I was in Arizona and split the long run into two smaller runs - but honestly, it went SO good.  Running has good days and bad days, we know that - but it was so good this week to have a beautiful day for 9 miles.  Let the miles climb!

It was such a beautiful day to run our 9 miles.  All of us even noticed the start of tan lines from our watches.  I went into the run thinking we have ran three miles many times the past few months and we have done well with the three milers - today, we just have to run three miles three times.  Sometimes running is such a mind game.  Liz got an extra little push towards the end of the run when we past MacArthur avenue she noticed an eagle soaring high above - hello Wendy!

This week definitely brought some short sleeve running weather.  Of course we are running in Northern MN/WI so things change quick.  Monday was gorgeous - followed by snowfall and cold days - with short sleeves again by the weekend.  Keep the nice days coming!

A few of us on the team signed up for the Fitger's 5K!  We are excited to be in the same wave bright and early in the morning.  Our plan calls for 10 miles that weekend so we are thinking of running the race and the hitting the lake front for seven more miles.... followed by Saturday morning blood mary's!

 Cross training!  Jenn finished her first ever fat tire bike race.  Look at that snow!  Roads are clear but the woods seem pretty winter like yet!  

Training is getting serious when you have to purchase a whole case of GU!  Look at how many calories are burned during a 9 mile run.... this photo says 1,600 but my Apple watch said it was more like 1,260.  Either way, that is like an entire days worth of nutrition!  I used a GU around mile 3-4 and honestly, mile 5 was my best mile of the whole 9 - GU must have kicked in!

This past week we also hit "100 days" until race day!  

That's it for this week - next week we hit double digits with a ten mile run!  Sara and Lou are enjoying some time in the warm weather of Florida.  Ladies, maybe we will see a workout photo of Lou on the beach this week.      

Get your miles in!
Carrie and the Crew 

Week Three: Memories and Milestones

Week three was full of memories and milestones......  If you have happened to check out the left hand column of our blog, you will find a bio for each member of our running team.  This week we ran in memory of our dear friend Wendy who would have been right by our side for this full marathon training program.  Wendy unexpectedly passed away last October after a tragic head injury.  She is missed every single day by her family and friends.  Her energy and humor is sure missed on our running team.  We had so many traditions before races - our group has run several half marathons together.  Her spirit will drive us to complete this full marathon this year - no matter what happens to the in-person race experience related to COVID.  We. Will. Do. This.  

Michelle reminded our team that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.  Liz, Michelle, and I got together and organized a fun, friendly, casual walk/run.  We invited Wendy's friends, family, and local walkers/runners to join us for our weekend long run.   Liz was very close to Wendy and I am sure she thinks about her on most of her runs - especially when certain songs pop up along the way.  Inviting everyone to run in memory of Wendy on Saturday was a great way for all of us to run with her.  It is just surreal and sometimes still not even believable she is not here.

 

We had such a nice turn out for our morning walk/run.  We had a one mile, three mile, and five mile route.  Most of the walkers finished the three mile route.  Liz, Michelle and I completed our weekend five mile long run.  It is hard to believe that five miles will really be a short run in the very near future.  Our mileage jumps pretty quickly after this!  One of the great running memories we have of Wendy was the post run selfie.  She was the tallest of the group by a mile.  She was always able to get all of us in the photo!

 

Michelle is so sweet and always things of the best "swag" for race days.  She ordered these shirts in honor of brain injury awareness month.  The morning started off pretty chilly so these came in handy.  Once the sun came out, it turned out to be a pretty nice day for a run.

 

Sometimes we can get so hung up on the logistics of running.  The watch, perfect shoes, electronic apps, distance and accurate pace.  Today's run was a the perfect reminder that those things really don't matter.  Sure, we like to see our pace improve - we like to PR - we like to push ourselves.  But really, it does not matter.  We run because it challenges us, because it is sometimes hard, because it is sometimes easy, because it keeps us moving, and because we can.  As Liz noted in Wendy's bio - she often ran for those who can't - including her pride and joy daughter Emma.  The two photos above deeply remind me the love of friendship and our love for running.  Liz, Michelle and I were clipping along at a decent pace and we were to the point we would pass the group that was doing the three mile route (their pace was great too, just so happened we would pass here).  On many of our runs, we get so hung up on pace and time.  Not today.  Today was about just being present.  Liz spotted Ashley across the way who is a newer runner.  Ashley worked on a 5K walk/run program last fall and completed her first 5K.  It was SO much fun to watch her run and finish that first race!  Ashley and Liz were both very close to Wendy and as soon as Liz was reaching Ashley, she zipped across the road to embrace her.  On this day, the hug was way more important than any certain pace we were trying to keep.  Michelle and I paused and waited for Liz and honestly, I stood there and cried.  It was way more emotional than I thought it would be.  

Some people prefer to run alone - Wendy was actually one of those folks.  She loved to run in the country on long roads.  For me, I love having people around.  It was so much fun to see all of these walkers along the way.  I love every second of group runs.  Do you think we can convince these folks to train with us for the rest of the program??  All of them here also have fond memories of Wendy.  Their presence today was a strong reminder of how many lives are touched by others. 

Michelle and I plugging away.  She crushed the five miles!  There were many times I needed to stop and catch my breath but running with Liz and Michelle always pushes me and holds me accountable.
 

 

Five miles in the books - and the sun came out by the end of the run!

 

Michelle put together these gift bags for our walk/runners.

 

Earlier in the week, Liz and I accomplished two morning runs.  I am NOT a morning person and will share more about that in a future post.  I will take it as a win we managed two!

 

Earlier in the week, we also welcomed March.  February was a total of 52 miles for us.  Our miles will climb pretty quickly from here!

 

 I mentioned this post was also about Milestones......

Jenn was SO excited to share with us this week that she nailed a sub 30 minute 5K for the first time!  That is so exciting!!  Here she is doing her happy dance after this fantastic accomplishment.  The sun is out, the snow is melting, spring running is here - we hope to stay!  Congratulations Jenn - nicely done!!

 Next week we will check in with Lou and Sara!

Hit the pavement folks.....

Carrie and the crew

 

 

 

 

 

Week Two

Week two with some sun......  I am a little late on my weekly post.  I was in Arizona over the weekend visiting some friends.  It was a quick trip but nice to get away to enjoy some sun.  We were supposed to run 3-3-3-7 last week and we all got our miles in.  Because I was on vacation, I broke my long 7 mile into two 3.5 miles.  I get the point of the long run - endurance, fuel, hydration, longevity, etc.  But I also get the point of vacation!  I was thrilled I ran all three days while in Arizona for a total of ten miles.  I have plenty of time to work on long runs the next several months.

 

Each morning I headed outside by 7:30 am to get my miles in.  I took a new route each day and enjoyed the scenery.  It was actually a bit chilly when I would first leave but it didn't take long for the sun to warm up.  I can't wait until late spring running when it is warm outside but early enough in the year we haven't hit the humidity yet.  

 

In my excitement to be running in Arizona versus northern Wisconsin, I didn't even pack a long sleeve shirt to run in.  I pretty quickly noticed I was the only person out in the morning with a tank top on.  There were always active people out and about so I am not picking on these girls.... they are moving!!....... but it did make me giggle a little.  They had warm jackets and the one on the left had a warm head band and mittens on.  I thought immediately "these girls can't be from Wisconsin".  Of course as I ran by, they were probably thinking I was crazy for being "under-dressed" for the weather.  

 

My daughter is a big coffee lover and headed to Starbucks every morning.  On this trip, I actually asked her to get me something each day.  What a great post run treat that was!  I bet I didn't even burn enough calories on my run to cover the calories in the coffee.... but a huge win for me was being on vacation and not gaining one single ounce!  Goes to show.... hard work pays off.  I got up and ran every day while I was there, enjoyed some extra vacation calories and special treats, and didn't sabotage my progress 

 

I almost felt guilty posting my warm runs when looking at Jenn in the snow! Looks like we are turning the corner with the weather though and it should warm up and be good outside running this week.  Nice work Jenn.

 

Michelle powered through her seven miles on the treadmill!!!  That is pure dedication there.  Nice work Michelle!!!  And thank you to Liz who went into photo stealth mode while I was gone, you make me proud! 

Liz usually doesn't have to take a post workout selfie, I usually make her take one.  She posted this in our group chat while I was gone.  She conquered one of her three miles and then worked on some plank.  I see here she said this was not for the blog.... but later in the group chat she said she knew I would use it, so... here it is!  I think this is the best drill sergeant look ever.  GET IT DONE... planks are no joke :)

 

Lou got some outside cross training done this week too.  I think we should ask him to wear the unicorn helmet for his next run!

 

Another super fun unexpected team building this week.  I literally had zero intentions of getting my three miles in this evening.  I hard worked two long back-to-back shifts on campus with nursing students including a three hour round trip commute both days and just did not want to run.  Since we are increasing our miles to four days a week and Arizona was coming up, it would have made for a miserable rest of the week if I didn't run. Still, I just couldn't get the motivation to run - until I noticed the whole team had already logged miles for the week.  Ok fine, I ran.  One of my biggest pieces of running advice is find your running peeps.  I know many people prefer to run alone - and that is ok - we don't complete all of our runs together - but the accountability of a training partner/team has been priceless for me.  Since everyone had already logged their miles, I really had no excuse not to run.  I headed to the basement and was SO thankful they pushed me to run I had to video group message them.  It was actually pretty funny.  Lots of laughing and heavy breathing (gross, right??).  Folks, finding your running peeps... IT HELPS.

Pretty short and sweet this week since I am a bit late.  This week we have 3-4-3-5 and for our long run on the weekend, we have a very special event planned that I can't wait to share here!

 

Get out there,

Carrie and Crew